Grand Ayatollah Shirazi urges believers to celebrate blessed birth anniversary of Imam al-Askari

The Supreme Religious Authority, Grand Ayatollah Sayyed Sadiq al-Husseini al-Shirazi, has called on Muslims, especially followers of Ahlulbayt, peace be upon them, to celebrate the blessed birth of Imam Hasan al-Askari, peace be upon him, on the 4th of Rabi’ al-Akhar.

This statement came in response to an inquiry regarding the differing opinions on the date of Imam Hasan al-Askari’s birth, a matter of debate each year, especially due to the 8th of Rabi’ al-Akhar coinciding with the commemoration of the martyrdom of Sayyeda Fatima al-Zahra, peace be upon her, according to some traditions.

Grand Ayatollah Shirazi explained that there are three main opinions on the birth date of Imam Hasan al-Askari, with some sources pointing to the 4th of Rabi’ al-Akhar and others to the 10th, noting that the 10th coincides with the martyrdom of Sayyeda Fatima al-Zahra, peace be upon her, based on the belief that she lived for 40 days after the passing of her father, the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him and his family. Therefore, he recommended dedicating the 10th to honor her martyrdom and celebrating Imam Hasan al-Askari’s birth on the 4th of the month.

The Grand Marja emphasized the importance of honoring the events related to Ahlulbayt, whether their births or martyrdoms, and using these occasions to spread the values they embodied, urging believers to use these events to introduce people to the pure lives of Ahlulbayt and to propagate the principles they upheld, highlighting that such commemorations offer an opportunity to deepen spiritual and doctrinal connections with the Infallible Imams.